Mom Sentenced To Ten Years In Prison For Selling $31 Of Marijuana

Via Oklahoma’s NewsOK comes a story that is troubling from all angles. Obviously, this woman’s decision to sell marijuana out of her home will not earn her a place in the parenting Hall of Fame, but is a ten-year prison sentence as punishment truly just or to anyone’s benefit?

Because of $31 in marijuana sales, Patricia Marilyn Spottedcrow is now serving 10 years in prison, has been taken away from her four young children and husband, and has ended her work in nursing homes.

Three days before Christmas, Spottedcrow, 25, entered the Eddie Warrior Correctional Center. “I’m nervous … because it’s prison … people I don’t know,” she said.

On Dec. 31, 2009, Spottedcrow and her mother, Delita Starr, 50, sold a “dime bag” of marijuana to a police informant at Starr’s home in Kingfisher, court records state.

Starr handled the transaction and asked her 9-year-old grandson — Spottedcrow’s son — for some dollar bills to make change for the $11 sale. Two weeks later, the same informant returned and bought $20 of marijuana from Spottedcrow.

The two women were arrested for drug distribution and because Spottedcrow’s children were in the home, an additional charge of possession of a dangerous substance in the presence of a minor was added.

Related Articles

So, let’s do a rough run on the numbers here . . . For $31 in pot we’re going to incur, what, AT LEAST $60k per person annually in costs directly associated with incarceration . . . I don’t know, some tens of thousands of dollars in public assistance related to the upbringing of the children . . . a minimum of $5,000 in attorney and court costs . . . some unknown amount, probably in the hundred of thousands of dollars per child, associated with the increased levels of antisocial behaviour and delinquency for the children of incarcerated parents.

Is there anyone this system benefits besides the legal “profession”?

Wouldn’t we be better off just having the judge hammer himself in the nuts with his gavel for a half hour? That’d probably cost less than this.

Liam_McGonagle

So, let’s do a rough run on the numbers here . . . For $31 in pot we’re going to incur, what, AT LEAST $60k per person annually in costs directly associated with incarceration . . . I don’t know, some tens of thousands of dollars in public assistance related to the upbringing of the children . . . a minimum of $5,000 in attorney and court costs . . . some unknown amount, probably in the hundred of thousands of dollars per child, associated with the increased levels of antisocial behaviour and delinquency for the children of incarcerated parents.

Is there anyone this system benefits besides the legal “profession”?

Wouldn’t we be better off just having the judge hammer himself in the nuts with his gavel for a half hour? That’d probably cost less than this.

Rex Vestri

“Is there anyone this system benefits besides the legal “profession”?”

Wackenhut Corporation benefits hugely from it too.

<sarcasm> Oh, and of course society at large, which is protected from the horrible threat posed by criminals such as Patricia Marilyn Spottedcrow. </sarcasm>

We need to end the War On Drugs and stop ruining people’s lives with our draconian drug laws!

Anonymous

The pot prohibition has been killed yet despite it seeming much like the alcohol prohibition…

Anonymous

The pot prohibition has been killed yet despite it seeming much like the alcohol prohibition…

Belcat2

The pot prohibition has been killed yet despite it seeming much like the alcohol prohibition…

http://twitter.com/lillivonschtupp abbie norml

they grow nervous as the tide changes

The Dude

Sickening.

The Dude

Sickening.

BananaFamine

Brainless, Soulless

BananaFamine

Brainless, Soulless

marshall

this is disturbing. thanks Mr. Reagan.

marshall

this is disturbing. thanks Mr. Reagan.

Rex Vestri

It didn’t start with that idiot (Regan). The real War On Drugs got started in 1970 with the Controlled Substances Act.

I’m not sure that Americans are aware of this but we live in the 21st century. A fine and maybe some community service would have been sufficient punishment for this ‘crime’. But instead, the enlightened lawmakers of Oklahoma decide that breaking up a family and costing tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars is more appropriate. Being as this is a HUGE arrest…the war on drugs should soon be over. I’ll sleep better tonight knowing that a desperado is safely behind bars. Yes indeedie…..gott bless amerika!!!

Rex Vestri

“Is there anyone this system benefits besides the legal “profession”?”

Wackenhut Corporation benefits hugely from it too.

Oh, and of course society at large, which is protected from the horrible threat posed by criminals such as Patricia Marilyn Spottedcrow. &

We need to end the War On Drugs and stop ruining people’s lives with our draconian drug laws!

Rex Vestri

It didn’t start with Regan. It started in 1970 with the Controlled Substances Act.

Here in Florida we have our own Bozo with the name Scott, already cost the state 2 billion in federal funds, wants to kill the pill-mill database, and wants to slash every department except the executive, which he increases. He still hasn’t yet risen to the level of Scott Walker, possibly because Floridians have no union protections to lose!

Anonymous

Better watch out for that Scott! He’s a dick!

14thedoctor

Not when. How.

Liam_McGonagle

Well, before last week I would have said: “When it becomes financially prohibitive for the state to keep paying for this bullshit.”

But now that I’ve had more time to acquaint myself with the CV of “C-Student” Scotty Walker, I’m not so sure about that . . .

Here in Florida we have our own Bozo with the name Scott, already cost the state 2 billion in federal funds, wants to kill the pill-mill database, and wants to slash every department except the executive, which he increases. He still hasn’t yet risen to the level of Scott Walker, possibly because Floridians have no union protections to lose!

http://twitter.com/lillivonschtupp abbie norml

they grow nervous as the tide changes

Toggle

I’m not sure that Americans are aware of this but we live in the 21st century. A fine and maybe some community service would have been sufficient punishment for this ‘crime’. But instead, the enlightened lawmakers of Oklahoma decide that breaking up a family and costing tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars is more appropriate. Being as this is a HUGE arrest…the war on drugs should soon be over. I’ll sleep better tonight knowing that a desperado is safely behind bars. Yes indeedie…..gott bless amerika!!!

Anonymous

1) Outlaw something relatively harmless that everyone enjoys partaking.
2) Arrest the inevitable offenders and put them in jail.
3) Use them as a captive workforce in a prison industry.
4) ?????
5) Profit !!!

Anonymous_Reader

1) Outlaw something relatively harmless that everyone enjoys partaking.
2) Arrest the inevitable offenders and put them in jail.
3) Use them as a captive workforce in a prison industry.
4) ?????
5) Profit !!!

ANON

And all the while people who abouse and sell “harder” substances walk away with a slap on the wrist…I CALL BULLSHIT!!!

ANON

And all the while people who abouse and sell “harder” substances walk away with a slap on the wrist…I CALL BULLSHIT!!!

Obviousprostitute

That whole “harder substances” line of thinking is complete bullshit, too. There aren’t “harder substances’, just weaker people with less self control.

14thedoctor

Not when. How.

Scooby Doo

The justice system is big business. This is just good business practice. The funny thing is that the human body is a huge drug machine, making chems 24/7. There is never a time when the brain is not on drugs. Sobriety is a myth. We are all on drugs. I wonder if taking a piss can be considered trafficking?

Scooby Doo

The justice system is big business. This is just good business practice. The funny thing is that the human body is a huge drug machine, making chems 24/7. There is never a time when the brain is not on drugs. Sobriety is a myth. We are all on drugs. I wonder if taking a piss can be considered trafficking?

Anonymous

This sentence is not only a cruel and unusual punishment to the mother, but also to Oklahoman taxpayers as well (maybe Federal ones too). Screw protests in Libya, Egypt, and, hell, even Wisconsin for that matter; go (peacefully) protest this NOW.

StillAtMyMoms

This sentence is not only a cruel and unusual punishment to the mother, but also to Oklahoman taxpayers as well (maybe Federal ones too). Screw protests in Libya, Egypt, and, hell, even Wisconsin for that matter; go (peacefully) protest this NOW.

WhiteRose

How about a fine, maybe she could do community service…. but ten years in prison? Then her kids are going to get screwed up…. weed is a low level drug. It’s probably for the investors of private jails to get rich… I’ve always had ethical issues with those.

WhiteRose

How about a fine, maybe she could do community service…. but ten years in prison? Then her kids are going to get screwed up…. weed is a low level drug. It’s probably for the investors of private jails to get rich… I’ve always had ethical issues with those.

Obviousprostitute

What in the fuck is wrong with some of you? “How about a fine and community service?!?!?!” REALLY?!?!

How about WE (since it’s OBVIOUSLY people like you, as well as the police) just leave everyone else alone?

She doesn’t deserve any punishment at all. Double thinking freaks.

emileo

Oklahoma’s always been a bit of of Overreactive Joke. See why people get pissed at their Courthouses now.

Jason Slupski

Oklahoma’s always been a bit of of Overreactive Joke. See why people get pissed at their Courthouses now.

Anonymous

I’ve got a better idea. How about she is fined the amount of sales tax on the sale, plus the income tax on her income from the sale. That’s gotta be a good ten dollars right there.

Though in all honesty, if she sold to one informant, odds are she’s sold a lot more. So the fine should probably be higher. Maybe estimate how much she is likely to have sold and take sales tax and income tax on that amount. And it was totally irresponsible to be selling (or worse, smoking it) with kids in the house.

That said, ten years is way over the top. Some kind of deterrent amount of jail time maybe, definitely a stiff fine but… wow. just wow.

quartz99

I’ve got a better idea. How about she is fined the amount of sales tax on the sale, plus the income tax on her income from the sale. That’s gotta be a good ten dollars right there.

Though in all honesty, if she sold to one informant, odds are she’s sold a lot more. So the fine should probably be higher. Maybe estimate how much she is likely to have sold and take sales tax and income tax on that amount. And it was totally irresponsible to be selling (or worse, smoking it) with kids in the house.

That said, ten years is way over the top. Some kind of deterrent amount of jail time maybe, definitely a stiff fine but… wow. just wow.

Dumb

This isn’t justice, this is the state trying to make an example out of someone. It’s not the rules or laws that matter, it’s the execution of the punishment when they ARE broken. I believe THAT is the message they are relaying here. I don’t sling drugs out my house, however I can see that this punishment DOES NOT fit the crime. There are so many people incarcerated for simple minor possession. Prison should be in place for a REAL offenders of the law, not petty crimes. There are better ways to create a better world, and all this state did was destroy not just this woman’s life, but those children’s lives as well. ….and for what? a dime bag of weed?

Dumb

This isn’t justice, this is the state trying to make an example out of someone. It’s not the rules or laws that matter, it’s the execution of the punishment when they ARE broken. I believe THAT is the message they are relaying here. I don’t sling drugs out my house, however I can see that this punishment DOES NOT fit the crime. There are so many people incarcerated for simple minor possession. Prison should be in place for a REAL offenders of the law, not petty crimes. There are better ways to create a better world, and all this state did was destroy not just this woman’s life, but those children’s lives as well. ….and for what? a dime bag of weed?

Kantgetright

It’s likely the state just turned this children into future drug abusers simply for the fact they can’t cope with their mom being gone. What if dad can’t meet bills. Very likely these children will stick together as a unit and rob, sell, even prositutute just to get by.. I know this, because I’ve been there!

Kantgetright

It’s likely the state just turned this children into future drug abusers simply for the fact they can’t cope with their mom being gone. What if dad can’t meet bills. Very likely these children will stick together as a unit and rob, sell, even prositutute just to get by.. I know this, because I’ve been there!

brian

Oklahoma, a state with a large native american population brutally politically and socially repressed by a tiny extreme right wing white minority.

brian

Oklahoma, a state with a large native american population brutally politically and socially repressed by a tiny extreme right wing white minority.

Guest

who sells $11 dimebags

Guest

who sells $11 dimebags

Vlad

Incarceration nation. Sad.

Vlad

Incarceration nation. Sad.

Strummingbabe

outrage!!!!!!!!

Strummingbabe

outrage!!!!!!!!

Kimpi123

It’s not just in Oklahoma, my son was put in jail 10 months ago for 4 separate charges of selling his prescription drugs for a grand total of $195 over a 3 month period and hasn’t even been sentenced yet but the prosecutor wants him to serve 17 years. He was unemployed with a wife not working and current on his support and trying to make ends meet not make a living at it. I just don’t understand the new math they teach now. $195.00 vs. $175,000.00. They don’t even come close to equalling out.

Kimpi123

It’s not just in Oklahoma, my son was put in jail 10 months ago for 4 separate charges of selling his prescription drugs for a grand total of $195 over a 3 month period and hasn’t even been sentenced yet but the prosecutor wants him to serve 17 years. He was unemployed with a wife not working and current on his support and trying to make ends meet not make a living at it. I just don’t understand the new math they teach now. $195.00 vs. $175,000.00. They don’t even come close to equalling out.

Tobacco and alcohol are way more toxic than marijuana; imprison most other parents instead!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1564999382 Cees Timmerman

Tobacco and alcohol are way more toxic than marijuana; imprison most other parents instead!

Obviousprostitute

Imprison murderers, robbers, and rapists, and VERY FEW others… We don’t have to trade anyone into the prison system. We need to REDUCE the number of people being commited to it, NOT FIND SUBSTITUTIONS!

That whole “harder substances” line of thinking is complete bullshit, too. There aren’t “harder substances’, just weaker people with less self control.

Obviousprostitute

What in the fuck is wrong with some of you? “How about a fine and community service?!?!?!” REALLY?!?!

How about WE (since it’s OBVIOUSLY people like you, as well as the police) just leave everyone else alone?

She doesn’t deserve any punishment at all. Double thinking freaks.

Obviousprostitute

Imprison murderers, robbers, and rapists, and VERY FEW others… We don’t have to trade anyone into the prison system. We need to REDUCE the number of people being commited to it, NOT FIND SUBSTITUTIONS!